GHBD Holland B.V., manufacturer and supplier of water treatment equipment for the horticultural and agricultural industry, introduces the new In-line fertilizer injection and irrigation unit. Jan Wijgerse of GHBD Holland has years of experience in exporting this equipment to many countries and knows the…
The atomized nutrient solution droplet sizes and spraying intervals can impact the chemical properties of the nutrient solution, biomass yield, root-to-shoot ratio and nutrient uptake of aeroponically cultivated plants. In this study, four different nozzles having droplet sizes N1 = 11.24, N2 = 26.35, N3 = 17.38 and N4 = 4.89 µm were selected and misted at three nutrient solution spraying intervals of 30, 45 and 60 min, with a 5 min spraying time. The measured parameters were power of hydrogen (pH) and electrical conductivity (EC) values of the nutrient solution, shoot and root growth, ratio of roots to shoots (fresh and dry), biomass yield and nutrient uptake. The results indicated that the N1 presented significantly lower changes in chemical properties than those of N2, N3 and N4, resulting in stable lateral root growth and increased biomass yield. Also, the root-to-shoot ratio significantly increased with increasing spraying interval using N1 and N4 nozzles. The N1 nozzle also revealed a significant effect on the phosphorous, potassium and magnesium uptake by the plants misted at proposed nutrient solution spraying intervals. However, the ultrasonic nozzle showed a nonsignificant effect on all measured parameters with respect to spraying intervals. In the last, this research experiment validates the applicability of air-assisted nozzle (N1) misting at a 30-min spraying interval and 5 min of spraying time for the cultivation of butter-head lettuce in aeroponic systems.
BioSafe Systems is launching a new product, CalOx FT, an advanced liquid nutritional and crop enhancement product for a wide range of agricultural and horticultural crops. The unique, patented CaT technology in CalOx FT to improve calcium mobility and distribution beyond traditionally applied calcium…
Fertigation is considered an efficient alternative to the enhanced use of chemical fertilizers. Since most of the fertigation systems rely on a theoretical electrical conductivity value of the nutrient solution, a team of Romanian researchers tried to evaluate if this is the real need of the plants as…
Fertigation is considered an efficient alternative to the enhanced use of chemical fertilizers. Since most of the fertigation systems rely on a theoretical electrical conductivity value of the nutrient solution, we tried to evaluate if this is the real need of the plants as well as if all the nutrients are needed at once. Therefore, we analyzed the electrical signals of the nutrients applied individually or in different mixes, correlating the electrical signals with the leaf gas exchange processes, studying the relation between the electrical signals and different plant phenological stages and the influence of the treatments on the lycopene content, nutritional composition, and antinutritional factors as well as the mineral bioavailability of tomato fruits cv. Brillante F1. The study was carried out in a greenhouse under controlled conditions. Ten different treatments consisting of MaEs (major elements) (V1—MgSO4, V2—KNO3, V3—K2SO4, V4—Ca(NO3)2, V5—KH2PO4, V6—KCl, V7—MgSO4 + KNO3 + KH2PO4, V8—K2SO4 + Ca(NO3)2 + KCl, V9—the mix of V1 to V6, commonly used in agricultural practices, V10—one nutrient each day) were applied daily when plants were 42 days old. The results showed that the values of the electrical signals varied depending on the treatment and the plant phenological stage. Five different trends of the electrical signals were identified. In addition, the shape of the signals varied during the day in accordance with the photosynthesis and the amount of CO2 registered. The results of the treatments’ influence on the nutritional composition and lycopene content of tomato fruits suggested that plants do not need all the nutrients at once; the highest values are registered for K2SO4 fertilization. However, this fertilizer also had the highest registered tannin, saponin, and trypsin inhibitors content, constituting a disadvantage considering the high nutritional values and lycopene content. Regarding the bioavailability of zinc, calcium, and iron for the human diet, regardless of the treatment applied, phytic acid did not affect the availability of zinc and calcium, but it had a negative impact on iron availability; also, the amount of oxalate could impair the bioavailability of calcium. The study suggests that tomato plants do not need all nutrients at once for quality fruits. However, further studies are needed in order to develop a fertigation scheme based on a smart nutrient use that provides an improved nutritional composition and mineral bioavailability. In addition, it is necessary to evaluate the influence of treatments on yield.
Research by A. Richa, S. Touil and M. Fizir highlights the recent developments in the treatment of hydroponic wastewater. The rapid development of hydroponic farming produces a large amount of wastewater rich in nutrients and organic matters thus imposes great harm to humans and the environment if the…
The beneficial effects of silicon (Si) on plants have been widely reported for its fruit qualitative improvements, growth gains, and protection against abiotic and biotic stresses. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effect of soil water potential (Ψs) (−30 and −60 kPa) and the foliar application of Si (0.0 (control), 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 g L−1) in the development of tomatoes grown in a greenhouse. We evaluated the biometric parameters and gas exchange in three periods (20, 34, and 48 days after planting). The rates of transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (gs), and net photosynthesis assimilation (An) were lower when the plants were subjected to water deficit. The foliar application of Si attenuated the effect of the water deficit in both levels applied to the crop. A high response was observed at −60 kPa, regardless of the evaluated period. However, a significant effect was not observed on the relative chlorophyll index and biomass accumulation when Si was applied. A foliar application up to 2.8 g L−1 promotes increases in An,gs, and E. It is highlighted that Si can promote improvements in gas exchange when plants are affected by a water deficit.
Plant biostimulants are of interest as they can stimulate plant growth and increase resource utilization. There is still no information on the use of plant growth-promoters under variable nutritional conditions in the nursery and the effects on tomato seedling growth and plant performance after transplant. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of gibberellic acid (GA3) or bacterial biostimulant treatments to enhance the growth and quality of greenhouse-grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum ‘Marmande’) seedlings, fertigated with increasing nutrient rates and to assess the efficacy of these treatments on the early growth of tomato plants. During autumn 2019, tomato seedlings were inoculated with 1.5 g L−1 of TNC BactorrS13 (a commercial biostimulant containing 1.3 × 108 CFU g−1 of Bacillus spp.) or sprayed with 10−5 M GA3 and fertigated with a nutrient solution containing 0, 1, 2 and 4 g L−1 of NPK fertilizer (20-20-20) when they reached the 11th BBCH growth stage for tomato. Subsequently, the seedlings were evaluated in greenhouse cultivation for 60 days until at least the 61st BBCH growth stage (January 2020). The growth of the tomato seedlings increased curvilinearly in relation to the fertigation rates. The GA3-treated seedlings showed similar or even higher growth parameters than the control seedlings fed with 4 g L−1 of fertilizer but with half of the nutrients. The inoculation of the substrate with Bacillus spp. had negative effects in the absence of fertigation but determined a greater growth at the highest fertigation rate. The bacterial inoculum of seedlings had longer-term effects than the GA3 treatment during the plant growth, but these effects were noticeable mainly when the bacterial biostimulant was associated with the highest fertigation rate.
Automated nutrient delivery systems can be expensive, and sticker shock can intimidate growers into putting off the upgrade. However, the vast majority of growers admit that the upfront investment pays off. Lower labour costs and reduced resource waste, along with saving time are enough to get many…
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria have been applied to different vegetable crops but there is still no information on the effect of bacterial biostimulant application under variable nutritional level on lettuce seedlings and their performance after transplanting in the field. This study aimed to…